Dental Implants

Serving St. Joseph, Niles, South Bend, Kalamazoo and all of Southwest Michigan

Dental implants are an excellent option when you are looking to replace a missing tooth. They are permanent restorations that replace the missing tooth root and provide a prosthetic tooth that looks and feels natural.

Dangers of Tooth Loss

It is important to address tooth loss as soon as possible. If left untreated, you may develop other serious oral health issues. Your neighboring teeth may shift to fill in the gap left by your missing tooth, causing alignment issues with your bite. You may also experience bone loss in your jaw and an increased likelihood of gum disease. Both of these issues can potentially contribute to additional tooth loss down the road.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants offer you several benefits compared with alternatives such as dental bridges and dentures. Dr. Sven Erickson can match the color of your new dental implant crown to your natural teeth, making the restoration undetectable to others. Also, since the implant is fused to your jawbone, your prosthetic tooth will function just like your natural teeth, allowing you to eat and speak with ease.

Other benefits of dental implants include:

They do not cause the same speech issues that you can experience when dentures slip

They are more comfortable than dentures and dental bridges

You will not experience any difficulty chewing, so you can eat all of your favorite foods whenever you like

Dental implants are more durable than dentures and dental bridges

Since neighboring teeth are not used to support the implant, your long term oral health is not compromised

Regular oral hygiene practices are easier with dental implants than with dentures or bridges

Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Ideal candidates for dental implants:

Have one or more missing teeth

Have sufficient jawbone density to support dental implants

Have healthy oral tissues

Do not have health conditions which impact bone healing

Are willing to commit several months to the process

If you do not have enough bone in your jaw to support the implants, Dr. Erickson may recommend dental bridges or dentures as an alternative to dental implants.

Your Dental Implant Procedure

St. Joseph cosmetic dentist Dr. Sven Erickson only performs the restoration portion of your dental implant procedure. He will refer you to a specialist in the area for the implant portion of the procedure.

The specialist will insert a titanium implant into your jawbone. As you heal over a period of six to twelve weeks, your jawbone will grow around and fuse with the implant, securing it in place. This process is called osseointegration.

Once osseointegration is complete, a titanium post, called an abutment, is attached to the implant. Dr. Erickson will then take impressions of your teeth and create a model of your bite. This model will be sent to the lab for use in the construction of your dental crown. When the crown has been made, Dr. Erickson will attach it to the abutment. You can then enjoy all the benefits of a fully functional prosthetic tooth.